Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one

another on a rectangular court, compete with the primary objective

of shooting a basketball (approximately 9.4 inches (24 cm) in diameter) through the
defender's hoop (a basket 18 inches (46 cm) in diameter mounted 10 feet (3.048 m) high to
a backboard at each end of the court), while preventing the opposing team from shooting through
their own hoop. A field goal is worth two points, unless made from behind the three-point line, when
it is worth three. After a foul, timed play stops and the player fouled or designated to shoot
a technical foul is given one, two or three one-point free throws. The team with the most points at the
end of the game wins, but if regulation play expires with the score tied, an additional period of play
(overtime) is mandated.
Players advance the ball by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or by passing it to a
teammate, both of which require considerable skill. On offense, players may use a variety of shots –
the layup, the jump shot, or a dunk; on defense, they may steal the ball from a dribbler, intercept
passes, or block shots; either offense or defense may collect a rebound, that is, a missed shot that
bounces from rim or backboard. It is a violation to lift or drag one's pivot foot without dribbling the
ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling.
The five players on each side fall into five playing positions. The tallest player is usually the center,
the second-tallest and strongest is the power forward, a slightly shorter but more agile player is
the small forward, and the shortest players or the best ball handlers are the shooting guard and
the point guard, who implement the coach's game plan by managing the execution of offensive and
defensive plays (player positioning). Informally, players may play three-on-three, two-on-two, and
one-on-one.
Invented in 1891 by Canadian-American gym teacher James Naismith in Springfield,
Massachusetts, in the United States, basketball has evolved to become one of the world's most
popular and widely viewed sports.[1][2] The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most
significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and
level of competition[3][4] (drawing most of its talent from U.S. college basketball). Outside North
America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as
the EuroLeague and the Basketball Champions League Americas. The FIBA Basketball World
Cup and Men's Olympic Basketball Tournament are the major international events of the sport and
attract top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for
national teams, like EuroBasket and FIBA AmeriCup.
The FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup and Women's Olympic Basketball Tournament feature top
national teams from continental championships. The main North American league is
the WNBA (NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship is also popular), whereas the
strongest European clubs participate in the EuroLeague Women.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball